All patients should see medical records by 2015

The Future Forum, an independent advisory board set up by the government last year, has said patients should be able to access their own medical data.

The board said giving patients access to their own records would help them to feel they owned data held about them.

The recommendation came as part of a longer document concerning the future of the health service.

The Forum comprises a group of 57 healthcare experts and is chaired by Professor Steve Field.

He said: "The world is shrinking: in an age of connectivity where people access information at the click of a button, the NHS cannot remain in the information dark ages."

"It is therefore critical that we hardwire the declaration of 'no decision about me, without me' into every part of the system."

The Forum said patients should be able to take copies of letters with them if they receive a hospital referral and when they are discharged.

The report said: "The government needs to re-establish a clear sense of direction. Delay in the publication of the information strategy and decisions to discontinue parts of the National Programme for IT have reduced momentum for change and created a climate of uncertainty and drift at a time when there have been other pressing concerns for health professionals and mangers."